Oakland, U.S.A. — Ask.com, an online brand for questions and answers, announced on November 15, the results of its job benefits study, conducted online by Harris Interactive among U.S. adults during the month of October. The 2012 State of the Workplace: Benefits and Perksstudy reveals that 95 percent of Americans weigh job benefits and perks before deciding to either stay put or take a new position. Benefits such as health insurance, 401K matching, paid time off and life insurance are so critical, more than half of U.S. workers (60 percent) would rather spend a night in jail than go without.

“Our goal here was to get a national view of what potential recruits value most, while pinpointing how job seekers in the West might differ,” said Lisa Ross, vice president of human resources at Ask.com. “While it’s clear that perks like free massages resonate with Westerners in particular, they pale in comparison to the value all Americans put on benefits like paid life insurance and tuition assistance.”

Healthcare: Worth Sleeping in the Slammer? 
Benefits and perks are so coveted, Americans say they’re worth a night behind bars. Men (64 percent) are more likely to indicate this than women (56 percent).

• U.S. adults (77 percent) list health insurance as the benefit that most factors into their employment decision.
  • Surprisingly, those without children (80 percent) are more likely to choose health insurance than those with children in the household (70 percent).
• Other benefits that topped the list for Americans include:
  • Retirement/401K matching (69 percent)
  • Paid time off (66 percent)
  • Life insurance (54 percent)
  • Ease of commute/proximity to transportation (49 percent)
  • Stock options (39 percent)
  • Tuition assistance (35 percent)

More Me Time, Please!
Americans are also protective of personal time, actively seeking employers invested in their health and well-being.

• More than a third said unlimited paid time off (PTO), telecommuter flexibility, and access to a free on-site gym/fitness center would encourage them to take or keep a job (34 percent each).
• American workers despise time wasted in gridlock. Half of respondents base their decision on a job on how close it is to public transportation, or the ease of the commute (49 percent).

Unlimited Vacation…For Real? 
Unlimited PTO is gaining traction with companies such as Netflix, Zynga and Ask.com embracing the concept. But how do Americans feel?

• Sixty-nine percent said they would be swayed to take a new job if the company offered unlimited PTO.
• Unlimited PTO matters more to single people (42 percent) than those who are married (30 percent) or divorced (27 percent).
• Is it really unlimited? Nearly half of U.S. adults (48 percent) worry about how much personal time they can actually take from their job.

Surprise…What Else They Want

• Western adults (21 percent) are more likely to be encouraged to take or keep a job with an on-site masseuse than those in the Northeast and South (14 percent and 12 percent, respectively).
• A job that comes with a clothing allowance is a big draw for many (26 percent), more so than a childcare subsidy or onsite childcare (22 percent).
• Younger adults (18-34 -year-olds) are more likely to want a nap room (24 percent), free dry cleaning (19 percent), and a personal shopper (16 percent) than adults 35 and older.
• Offering weekend trips planned for employees and their families on anniversaries and birthdays can also sway job seekers (18 percent).

“Silicon Valley companies are known for offering unusual perks like onsite haircuts and laundry service, which are nice-to-haves,” said Ross. “But at the end of the day, what American workers value most are employers committed to their health and well-being and those who are actively invested in their overall quality of life.”

Ask.com also released an infographic here detailing the benefits of adopting an unlimited PTO policy, a benefit the company offers.

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Virginia, U.S.A. — The nonprofit LIFE Foundation announced on June 29th an online vote to help determine which of two students in its LIFE Lessons Scholarship Program will be awarded $10,000 towards their college education. The two finalists highlighted in the vote submitted videos describing the financial and emotional impact of losing a parent at an early age, especially how the lack of adequate life insurance coverage affected their college plans. Voting will take place between now and the end of July. The voting process is being conducted on the LIFE Foundation’s Facebook page, and can be accessed through this direct link, www.lifehappens.org/vote.

The students featured in the vote are:

• Johana Lopez, Bay Harbor, Fla.– Johana’s father was murdered when she was 12 years old. For safety reasons, Johana’s mother moved with her three children from Texas to Florida. Because her husband didn’t have any life insurance, Johana’s mother worked multiple jobs to try to make ends meet. But it still wasn’t enough. So when Johanna was 16, she made the difficult decision to drop out of high school and take on a full-time job to help support her family. Johana eventually got her high school degree. She wanted to attend a four-year college, but enrolled in her local community college instead because it was all that she could afford at the time. Johana, now 21, was recently accepted into the University of Miami and, with the help of scholarships and financial aid, will begin her studies there in September.
• David Leyden, Pittsburgh, Pa.– David’s parents divorced when he was 12, and his mother was given sole custody of her two sons because of various problems that her ex-husband had, including alcoholism. David’s mother had worked as a lawyer but gave up that career to homeschool her boys, a decision she made, in part, because her younger son was frequently bullied in school because of his weight. After several years of relative calm, David’s mother was diagnosed with vaginal cancer and died later that same year. Her boys were left without a financial safety net because she didn’t have any life insurance. They also didn’t have any family who could take them in, and thus became wards of the state and dependent on Social Security survivor benefit checks for their financial needs. David is now approaching his 18th birthday and will soon lose his survivor benefits. David, who has worked since he was 15, will now need to cover all of his living expenses. He will also be solely responsible for paying for college. In September he will begin his freshman year at the University of Pittsburgh.

The LIFE Foundation has already awarded Johana and David $5,000 scholarships because their applications were judged to be the two best in the Video Category. The online vote will determine which student receives an additional $5,000 toward their college education costs.

“Johana and David’s stories are good examples of how difficult life can become for your children if you fail to plan ahead for their financial future,” said Marvin H. Feldman, CLU, ChFC, RFC, president and CEO of the LIFE Foundation. “When a parent dies without life insurance, financial chaos can settle in very quickly and plans for the future, like a college education, often get postponed or set aside altogether. We created the LIFE Lessons Scholarship program to help deserving young people like Johana and David to realize their dream of a college education and to remind moms and dads everywhere of the need to include life insurance in their college-funding plans.”

In all, LIFE will award 61 scholarships this year totaling $112,000. The winner of the online vote, as well as the other 2012 scholarship recipients, will be announced in September 2012. For more information about the LIFE Lessons Scholarship Program visit www.lifehappens.org/lifelessons

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As many gear up to the prospect of a tough 2012, three in four Britons (75%) have made financial resolutions for the New Year, according to financial planning website rplan.co.uk.

With one in seven adults (14%) saying his household is GBP500 or more a month worse off in 2011 than it was three years ago, rplan.co.uk asked a GB representative sample of 2,077 adults which financial resolutions they were planning for 1st January.

Of those that planned financial resolutions:

- More than one in two adults (56%) said they planned to cut back on their spending. Women were more prone to this than men (59% to 50%).

- More than one in three people (37%) wanted to try to save more money each month whilst 36% said a key resolution was to cut down their debts. The research showed an attitude-divide between the young and old with the under 35s top financial resolution focusing on saving, whereas the over 35s top priority was to cut back spending and to reduce debt.

Top 10 financial resolutions for 2012:

Resolution                                                                                Percentage

Cut back on my spending                                                         56%

Save more money each month                                                               37%

Reduce my debts                                                                                       36%

Look for a better paid job to boost my income                                      19%

Ensure I have the best insurance cover available                               12%

Cut down what I spend on insurance                                                    12%

Shop around financial providers so I pay less in charges                 11%

Start/take more action with my pension                                                 9%

Take more control over my investment decisions                                8%

Change my bank account                                                                                6%

- Financial plans that didn’t make the top 10 included: paying off my

mortgage (3%), supporting elderly parents financially (3%), moving house (2%) and

taking out life and income protection insurance (3%)

Andy Creak, Managing Director at rplan.co.uk , commented: “The last year has presented most adults with a near-impossible juggling act, many trying to make cut-backs on a shrinking disposable income, whilst also trying to put money away to support the needs of family members.

At rplan.co.uk, we have put tools in place to help people work out in real terms how much various plans, such as getting through university, may cost and we encourage everyone to take a close look at the costs and charges involved in the financial products they hold, as this is an area where meaningful savings can often be made.”

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Hitting the treadmill to work off the festive pounds traditionally tops the New Year resolutions list, but according to research by moneysupermarket.com, Brits are shunning the gym this year.

Research by Britain’s number one comparison site found over two thirds of consumers (68%) won’t be joining or renewing their membership as they believe the gym is an unnecessary cost, and they keep fit and healthy in other ways. This is compared to 46% of respondents in 2009.

One in ten Brits (12%) are concerned about the cost implications with 5% not planning to renew their membership as they rarely used it this year and need to cut costs. A further 6% are unsure about signing up due to the current economic climate and needing to rethink their spending.

The research also found the younger generation favour the gym with almost one in five (18%) of 18-34 year olds stating they already regularly exercise and plan to renew their membership in the new year compared to just 6% of those aged over 55. Instead an overwhelming 81% of this age group stated the gym is a waste of money and find alternative ways to keep fit and healthy rather than signing up to a fitness club.

James Clarke, Head of Protection at MoneySupermarket.com said: “Despite the indulgence of Christmas it seems gym membership is not high on the priority list for a New Year health kick as Brits look to cut costs. Joining a gym can be a huge financial commitment, and with many gym-goers admitting to rarely using their membership, it’s important to consider whether their hard-earned cash can be used more effectively.”

Quitting smoking is also another resolution many vow to take as part of leading a healthier lifestyle. A recent poll run of MoneySupermarket site users found over 13% of respondents successfully quit last year, and a further 5% have vowed to kick the habit in 2012.

James Clarke continued: “For those exercise fanatics who commit to the gym and work out on a regular basis it is worth knowing there are life insurance and critical illness policies that reward a healthy lifestyle. The same also applies for smokers who quit the habit, as there is a huge price difference between policies for smokers and non-smokers. Brits could see average savings of GBP4,347 over the term of the policy – a significant sum of money!”

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New data released by comparethemarket.com, one of the UK’s leading price comparison sites, shows that pet owners are far more likely to insure their pet than their own life. According to the website’s statistics, three times as many people get a quote for pet insurance than they do for life insurance.

Commenting on the findings, comparethemarket.com‘s Commercial Director Jeremy Moll said: “It’s good that so many people are aware of the need for pet insurance. In the event that your pets ever need vaccinations or treatment, the right pet insurance enables you to give them all the care they need without the extra worry of escalating vet bills.

“However, pets aren’t the only members of the family who could benefit from insurance. If the worst were to happen, life insurance cover enables you to look after your family when you are gone. This could help make sure that your home is paid for and your family’s welfare is taken care of.

“comparethemarket.com can help customers find great deals on both pet and life insurance. By comparing and contrasting products from different providers, customers can be sure to find the right cover at the right price to suit their lifestyle and circumstances.”

Additionally, people who buy pet or life insurance will also receive an exclusive meerkat toy based on characters from the highly successful ad campaign. As the toys are not for sale, comparethemarket.com‘s Simples Rewards scheme is the only way to receive one of these much sought after toys.

Specializing in more than just car insurance, the site provides customers with an easy way to find the right deal on a wide range of insurance and financial products including home insurance, van insurance, bike insurance, life insurance, pet insurance and credit cards. It also offers comparisons for a range of household utilities including electricity, gas, phone, broadband and digital TV.

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